Another session on the potential lifting of legal immunity for parliamentarians descended into fighting between legislators from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the pro-Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party (HDP) on 2 May. The meeting of the constitutional commission at the Turkish National Assembly reportedly took place after a previous session on 28 April was postponed after another fistfight broke out.
The HDP believes the bill is aimed at suppressing dissent against the AKP government. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for the prosecution of several HDP members, accusing them of support for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
The footage, shot by a deputy of the Republican Peoples Party (CHP), shows lawmakers throwing bottles and punches at each other amidst the heated debate.
Turkish media reports said that AKP Deputy Mustafa Sentop called for a short break to end the scuffles prior to resuming the parliamentary session.
